Knee Microfracture Surgery

Microfracture surgery is performed to try to restore a full-thickness cartilage defect of the knee. Introduced over 20 years ago, this arthroscopic procedure uses the body’s own healing abilities to enrich tissue regeneration to the chondral surface.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Articular Cartilage Injury That Can Be Treated With Microfracture Surgery?

Loose fragments floating in the knee can cause intermittent swelling.

Pain with prolonged walking or climbing up stairs.

The knee occasionally buckling or giving way when weight is placed on it.

Loose, floating pieces of cartilage may catch as the knee joint bends, causing the knee to lock or have limited range of motion.

The knee may make noise, called crepitus, during motion, especially if the cartilage on the back of the kneecap is damaged. This noise is typically described as a, “snap, crackle, or pop”.

After Articular Cartilage Damaged Has Been Diagnosed, What Factors Indicate Microfracture?

The patient has a full-thickness defect in either a weightbearing area between the femur and tibia or in an area of contact between the back of the patella.

The patient has unstable cartilage covering the underlying bone.

The patient has degenerative changes in the knee that is normally aligned.

What factors Should be Considered Before Microfracture Surgery?

The patient’s age

The patient’s activity level

The patient’s knee alignment. Patients with “knock-kneed” or “bowlegged” are not good candidates for this procedure.

In general, microfractures are best performed in cartilage defects that have good surrounding cartilage. This is called good “containment”. In addition, microfractures do best in smaller cartilage defects, usually less than 2 cm2 in size. Larger cartilage defects may require a fresh osteoarticular allograft to provide the best chance for the patient to have a good outcome.

What is the Pathology of Articular Cartilage Damage?

In effect, a cartilage defect in the knee is like a “pothole” in the road. The opposing surface of cartilage can bump against it and either roll over it or become gouged out over time. The purpose of the microfracture surgery is to fill in the “pothole.” Just like a pothole being filled in in the street, if a microfracture is subjected to lower loads, like on a side street with light traffic, there is a better chance that it will be more durable over time than one that is subjected to higher-impact loads, like those potholes on the highway which frequently have to be resurfaced every year because of big trucks causing the potholes to reform. Thus, a patient will be more likely to have a better outcome after a microfracture if they participate in low impact activities instead of returning to higher impact activities like running.

How is Microfracture Surgery Performed?

Microfracture surgery is performed arthroscopically. Most of the time, microfractures are performed on the end of the femur (thigh bone), where the outcomes are more predictable. In addition, the size of the defect that is being treated can make a big difference because smaller defects have more durable fibrocartilage scar tissue heal in the area of the microfracture.

When a microfracture surgery is performed, holes are made in the exposed bone, about 3 to 4mm apart, to try to release some of the stem cells which will ultimately form a clot in the area of the microfracture. This marrow rich clot is the base for new tissue formation. The microfracture technique produces a rough bone surface that the clot adheres to more easily. This clot eventually matures into firm repair tissue that become smooth and durable.

During the initial timeframe, the clot is at risk for being dislodged if the patient bears too much weight or performs too many activities. That is the reason that patients are kept nonweightbearing for 6 weeks after a microfracture. In addition, constant motion over the area of the microfracture can help it to form better to the contour on the end of the bone. This is why we use a continuous passive motion machine (CPM) postoperatively to try to ensure that the microfracture will have the best contour and healing surface.

What is Microfracture Recovery Like?

For microfracture recovery, the rehabilitation program is crucial to optimize the success of the surgical technique. Weightbearing is usually initiated at 6 weeks after the microfracture. During this time, it is important that a slow progression of weightbearing is followed to allow the microfracture tissue to harden more over time. If activities are initiated too quickly after microfracture recovery, the microfracture may not heal or may heal with soft fibrocartilage. If the microfracture heals with a more softened state, even though it does cover the end of the bone, it often may not be functional and patients may have a recurrence of pain. Depending upon the location of the microfracture and the size of the defect, it can take anywhere from 4 to 7 months to be able to heal to the point where patients can increase their activities and potentially initiate occasional impact activities.

What Type of Complications May Occur with Microfracture?

Most patients progress through the post-op period with little or no difficulty. After microfracture has been performed in the patella (kneecap) and the trochlear groove (the groove on the femur in which the patella glides during motion), some patients may develop mild transient pain. Small changes in the articular surface of the patellofemoral joint may produce a grating or “gritty” sensation. This sensation will typically occur when a patient discontinues use of the knee brace and begin normal weightbearing through full range of motion. Patients rarely have pain at this time, and this grating sensation typically resolves on its own in a few days or weeks.

If a steep perpendicular rim was made in the trochlear groove, patients may notice “catching” or “locking” as the ridge of the patella rides over this area during joint motion. Some patients may notice these symptoms while using continuous passive motion machine (CPM). If this locking sensation is painful, the patient is advised to limit weightbearing and avoid the bothersome joint angle for an additional period. These symptoms usually dissipate within 3 months.

In most cases, any swelling and joint effusion (fluid in the joint) disappears within 8 weeks after microfracture. Occasionally, a recurrent effusion develops between 6 to 8 weeks after surgery for a defect on the femur; usually when a patient begins to put weight on the injured leg. This effusion may mimic the preoperative or immediate preoperative effusion, although it is usually painless. It typically resolves within several weeks. Rarely is a second arthroscopy required for recurring effusions.

Microfracture Knee Surgery FAQ

Is microfracture a “cure” for osteoarthritis?

No, microfracture is a technique to help form a new surface to cover chondral defects. If successful, it minimizes pain and swelling and helps joint function.

Is the new tissue that forms after the microfracture identical to the original articular cartilage?

No, the new tissue is a “hybrid” of articular-like cartilage plus fibrocartilage. Experience shows that this hybrid tissue is durable and functions similarly to articular cartilage.

Can microfracture be used in joints other than the knee?

Yes, there are reports of microfracture being sued in the shoulder, hip and ankle. The long-term effectiveness of the technique in these other joints is unknown. This is because there are no long-term studies available similar to those that have been done to evaluate the procedures in the knee.

Microfracture surgery of the knee is indicated to resurface well-defined, small to medium size areas of full-thickness articular cartilage damage of the knee. The work-up for determining if one is a patient for a microfracture surgery of the knee is very important. In addition to the history, a well-performed physical exam, and radiographic assessment is required. The best candidates for microfracture surgery are young (physiologic age < 50) have well-localized articular cartilage damage with good articular cartilage edges of the remaining cartilage present (well-shouldered) and who have good ligament stability of their knee (or who are undergoing concurrent ligament reconstruction), have normal lower extremity alignment, and who have good remaining meniscal tissue (the protective cushioning material for the articular cartilage).

Dr. Richard Steadman originally developed microfracture surgery. Dr. Steadman performed a series of studies with researchers at Colorado State University to determine the best techniques to ensure a successful result. Through these studies, it was found that non-weightbearing with the use of a continuous passive motion machine for 6-8 weeks, having well-defined edges of the remaining cartilage, and removing the calcified cartilage layer was necessary to have optimal outcomes after a microfracture surgery.

Description of Microfracture Surgery of the Knee

The principles of microfracture surgery are to make small holes in the bone to allow for stem cells to migrate from the bone into the area of the defect and to form a well-defined clot over the defect. In patients who do not have good edges of cartilage (well-shouldered) or with larger defects, there is a lesser chance that this clot will form in the correct position due to abrasion from the opposing cartilage surface or from the clot not having a proper edge to form along. Over time, the clot matures with the majority of patients having a combination of fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage forming to repair the defect. Microfracture surgery has been reported to restore about 75% of athletes back to their sporting activities.

It has been well determined that the principles of microfracture surgery must be very carefully followed. In addition to making sure that one has the best prepared area for the clot to form, which involves removing the scar tissue and calcified cartilage layer, a well-shouldered rim of remaining cartilage and good joint stability is required.

Microfracture surgery has withstood the test of time in terms of the treatment of articular cartilage damage. While it was the first technique developed, most level 1 randomized studies do not show any significant improvement of a patient’s function compared to some of the newer, and much more expensive and invasive, articular cartilage resurfacing techniques. Thus, for the majority of patients, an initial surgical treatment with a microfracture would be recommended because it is a one-stage surgery, commonly involves the use of only two arthroscopic incisions, and causes minimal patient discomfort.

Post-Op

We keep our patients non-weightbearing for 6-8 weeks after microfracture surgery and use a continuous passive motion machine for 8 hours a day to try to help the repair tissue to form the best quality-healing cartilage. After the initial 6-8 weeks, patients may slowly wean off their crutches based on their symptoms, start the use of a stationary bike, and other initiate other low impact activities as tolerated. One should avoid impact activities for several months, with most of our athletes recommended to avoid them for 6-9 months, to maximize healing of the microfracture.

I can't say enough good things about Dr. LaPrade. His dedication to excellence and his passion for creating the best outcomes for patients is evident in everything he does. I had a double-bundle PCL reconstruction using autografts in AUG '18. It's 6 months later, and I'm progressing well. My stress x-rays indicate a successful surgery, and I'm able to cycle and jog (under controlled circumstances) again. I feel like Dr. LaPrade's expertise has given me the opportunity to return to my active lifestyle with confidence in my knee and surrounding muscles. I am grateful to him, his staff, and the highly skilled PT's at Howard Head for getting me back on my feet and doing the things I love. Thank you!

I've had three knee surgeries with Dr. LaPrade, two of which were highly complex reconstructive surgeries. He's amazing! Besides being one of the best knee surgeons in the country, he's really compassionate. There are jerseys hung up all over the walls from famous athletes that he's operated on, and he's the knee surgeon for the Olympic ski team, and yet he never treated me as less important than them even though I'm only fifteen and have no Olympic prospects. Also, everyone at Steadman clinic is really great, and so are all the physical therapists at Howard Head. If you have surgery with Dr. LaPrade, expect amazing care from the entire team. I'm so grateful that I was able to have my surgeries with Dr. LaPrade! He did an excellent job, and now my surgical knee is stronger and more flexible than my other one. Thank you!

Dr LaPrade, Vail Hospital, Howard Head physical therapy and the ENTIRE team are the BEST!!! After 6 failed knee surgeries in Tulsa that left me with almost no knee motion or hope for any in the future, I found a HERO and miracle working Surgeon who literally performed my LAST surgery that gave me my knee motion and life back as I have nearly PERFECT motion now! He’s one of the most caring, kind, compassionate, and skillful complex knee surgeons you will ever find with an equally skilled and caring team from check in to surgery and follow up!! Thank GOD for all of you!!! Cameron Arthur, Chief of Police, Jenks, Oklahoma

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I can't say enough good things about Dr. LaPrade. His dedication to excellence and his passion for creating the best outcomes for patients is evident in everything he does. I had a double-bundle PCL reconstruction using autografts in AUG '18. It's 6 months later, and I'm progressing well. My stress x-rays indicate a successful surgery, and I'm able to cycle and jog (under controlled circumstances) again. I feel like Dr. LaPrade's expertise has given me the opportunity to return to my active lifestyle with confidence in my knee and surrounding muscles. I am grateful to him, his staff, and the highly skilled PT's at Howard Head for getting me back on my feet and doing the things I love. Thank you!

"Dr Laprade operated me after my father took me to the Steadman Clinic, and having been operated once before in MX, he rebuilt my knee and made me fully functional since then. A very human Physician, and incredible care." - Galia S.

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